Usability and Internet
Instruction
INST 5240
Mimi Recker
Utah State University
Usability and Internet
Instruction
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User interface design for usability:
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enables users to fluently achieve particular goals
in some domains
seamless integration of content and control,
including layout of information and navigation
depends on technology; depends on deep
understanding of human elements within
interaction
Examples of usable and unusable
interfaces?
Usability in Internet
Systems
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Loss of technical control
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Display hardware
Connection speed
Software
User settings
Loss of content control
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Hypertext
Outside links
Small Group Discussion
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What makes an Internet-based
education site usable?
What makes an Internet-based
education site unusable?
What makes an Internet-based
education site learnable?
...Identify top 3 characteristics
Principles to Support
Usability
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1. Learnability
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Predictability
Familiarity
Consistency
Usability Design Principles
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2. Flexibility
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Customizability
Substitutivity (e.g. ‘shortcuts’)
3. Robustness
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Observability (provide clear visual messages)
Recoverability
Responsiveness (feedback)
Task-specific support for user’s goals
Usability via User-Centered
Design
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Design philosophy:
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Early focus on users and their concrete needs -designers contact real users
Integrated design
Early and continual user testing -- empirically
driven
Iterative design with progressive refinement
Taking an expanded view of the product
Focus on satisfying concrete needs of real users
Process of User-Centered
Design
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Continuous cycles of design,
enactment, analysis, and redesign:
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Conduct needs assessment
Design/develop rapid prototype
Evaluate
Analyze
Redesign
UCD: Examples
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Needs assessment:
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Design rapid prototype:
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[see next slide]
Analyze data:
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Design brief
Screen/paper mock-up
Alpha, beta versions
Evaluate:
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What are learning objectives?
How will web resources help students learn?
Do users have reliable access?
combine, categorize, diagnose, prioritize
Redesign
Evaluation
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Recruit participants
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client, experts, users …
Evaluation strategies
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expert review, cognitive walkthrough,
survey, focus group, interview,
observation, assess learning/impact …
Two Evaluation Examples
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1. Webby awards
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Content
Structure & navigation
Visual design
Functionality
Interactivity
Overall experience
(http://www.webbyawards.com/main/webby_a
wards/criteria.html)
2. WAMMI: Web usability questionnaire